UPCOMING EVENTS AT THE RANDALL LIBRARY
Creature Teachers, Thursday, July 31, 6pm -The Randall Library is proud to welcome some of the most fascinating creatures of the world to this special event. This program is supported in part by the Randall Library Friends Association, Stow Cultural Council (which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency), and DCU Kids.

Elizabeth Elo, author of North of Boston, Thursday, August 7, 7pm – Ms Elo’s debut novel, North of Boston, has garnered starred reviews from Booklist and Publishers Weekly, as well as praise from well-known authors and critics. This gripping literary thriller introduces a compelling new heroine to the mystery world, Pirio Kasparov. Come meet Ms Elo. and hear her read from her chilling, atmospheric new novel.

Tim Reed’s Science Show, Tuesday, August 12, 6-7pm – This year’s summer reading program is all about fizz, boom, and read. Randall Library Board of Trustees member Tim Reed will be at the library to share with kids the joys of chemistry, which might just involve a little fizz and boom of our own!

Explore the Outdoors with Cynthia Maxfield, Wednesday, August 13, 10: 30am – Take a walk with us as we look closely at nature’s wonders. Children will use different magnifiers as they make new scientific discoveries all around the library.

Exploring the Worcester Art Museum-18th to 21st Century Collections, Thursday, August 14, 7pm – The Randall Library is proud to have Martha Chiarchiaro teaching a three-part series of lectures on the great works of art at the Worcester Art Museum. Passes to the museum are available soon, thanks to the Randall Library Friends Association.

Wings & Wheels: Cruise-In/Fly-In to Minute Man Air Field
Head to Minute Man Air Field (302 Boxboro Rd.) every Thursday night this summer 5pm – 8pm, through August 28. There are featured cars each week, but all cars are welcome. This event features great food including wood-fired pizzas, burgers, and dogs from Nancy’s Air Field Cafe. Plenty of show parking and separate public parking. Suggested donation of $5 to benefit local and international service projects. For more information, visit www.WingsandWheelsMA.com or www.Facebook.com/WingsandWheelsMA.

Stow Fire Rescue’s wash the Fire Truck Day
On Sunday, August 3, Stow Fire Rescue will be holding its annual fun fundraising event at the Stow Fire Station.The $5 per child admission ($20 max. per family…no charge for adults) allows kids to wash a fire truck, jump on the moon bounces, get their temporary tattoos, and explore the rescue vehicles. The Slush Lady will be stopping by…priced separately. Proceeds will go toward fire fighting training materials and the firefighters’ relief fund. Rain date to be determined if necessary. Please come say “hi” to Sparky the Fire Dog and join us from 11am to 1pm. For more information call 978-897-4537.

STOW AREA PARENTS NETWORK PRE-KINDERGARTEN PLAYGROUP
Saturday, August 9, 1:30pm – 3:30pm; Center School playground, Stow. Calling all kid about to enter kindergarten! Join us for a pre-kindergarten playgroup with your soon-to-be classmates. We will meet at the Center School playground for play time, a craft, and a visit from the ice cream truck! All local children who are about to enter kindergarten, along with their caregivers, are invited to join us – you do not need to be a member of SAPN to participate. Please RSVP by August 5 on BigTent, or email Leigh at leighquievryn@gmail.com. For more information about SAPN visit our web site at www.bigtent.com/groups/sapn1, or email sapn.info@gmail.com.

Bicycle Recycle Day in Stow
On Saturday, August 9, 9am-12pm, at Union Church (317 Great Rd.), donate your bike for reuse. Any bicycle is a good bicycle, reclaim-reuse: We will take Racing, Mountain, Bmx, Cruiser, kids, old/new. Our aim is to keep bicycles from being destroyed when they can be reused. Too many bicycles get throw away or end up at the transfer station in the scrap metal pile. There is no cost, and your old or new bicycle unwanted bicycle will get a new home. If you are not able to drop your bicycle/s off, please call and we will pick it up. Bikes from all towns are welcome.
Questions – contact Dennis Wood, at 508-277-7513 or denwaynewood@yahoo.com.

WEST SCHOOL EVENTS
On Sunday, August 10, the West School Museum will host an Open House. Sunday, September 7, will be the School’s Back to School program, and Sunday, October 5, Storyteller Todd Goodwin’s will offer his Stories of New England.

All events begin at 3pm and are run jointly by the Stow Historical Commission and the Stow Historical Society. The Stow West School is located on Harvard Road at the intersection with Hiley Brook Road. Convenient parking is across the road. These programs are sponsored in part by a grant from the Stow Cultural Council which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
St. Isidore Parish is pleased to offer our Vacation Bible School again this summer! Our “Weird Animals” adventure begins on Monday, August 11 and ends on Thursday, August 14. Each day runs from 9:30am – 12:30pm, and there is an evening session for children and parents on Thursday, August 14, from 6:30 – 8pm. The cost is $30 per child, with a maximum of $90 per family. The week is open to children age 4 by September 1 through those entering 6th grade in the fall.

Additional information and the registration form is available on the St. Isidore Parish website, stisidorestow.org, or you can contact Joyce Pinney, Faith Formation Director at 978-897-2710 or at joyce@stisidorestow.org.

The New Book Club
The next meeting of the New Book Club will be on Tuesday, August 12, 7pm, at Randall Library. Our pick for August is The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.

Set in Both London and Guernsey Island, the novel follows author Juliet Ashton as she becomes friends with the inhabitants of the island shortly after the end of World War II. Written as a series of letters, Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the people of this island, learning about the island itself, their taste in books and the impact the German Occupation had on their lives. Questions….call 978-897-2720.

NASHOBA COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP SAYS GET OUT AND EXPLORE!
Nashoba Community Partnership for Children invites you to join us this spring and summer as we GET OUTDOORS & EXPLORE! All ages are welcome.

At Randall Library on Wednesday, August 13, at 10:30am, Explore Outdoors, as we take a walk and look closely at nature’s wonders. Children will use different magnifiers as they make new scientific discoveries.

In neighboring towns – On Thursday, July 31, at 11am, there will be a Teddy Bear Picnic at Lancaster’s Thayer Library, Main St., Lancaster Town Green. And on Thursday, August 21, at 10:30am, Lancaster hosts Explore Outdoors at the Thayer Library.

UPCOMING ARTISANS FAIR & LOCAL ARTISANS WANTED
The Lake Boon Association is hosting its annual “Lake Boon Artisans Fair” on Sat., August 23, 10am-3:30pm, at the beautiful Pine Bluffs Recreation Area, as part of the fun-filled 2014 Water Carnival weekend. Shoppers, mark your calendars to come support your talented neighbors by buying wonderful hand-crafted items! We are also looking for additional local artisans to sell, and are asking for a nominal donation from each artisan ($10 for Lake Boon Assoc. members, $15 for non-members) to reserve a space. Artisans will need to provide their own table/display for selling. Space is limited so please contact us soon for more information. Call or email Kris (978-430-4109, kriskrablin@gmail.com ) or Lynne (978-212-5269, lynnecor@aol.com ).

Farm to Table Pot Luck
Save the Date: August 23 from 6 to 9 p.m. Visit a local farm, farmers market or your own garden in the morning, then bring something amazing to share on Saturday night! This gathering is being sponsored by the Stow Conservation Trust and hosted by Applefield Farm to celebrate the farms that keep Stow a special place. More details to follow at www.stowconservationtrust.org.

STOW BIKE FOR THE WOODS
The 13th annual Stow Bike for the Woods is taking place Sunday, August 24. This is a family-friendly road-bike ride in support of the Stow Conservation Trust. Registration starts at 8:30am, ride at 9am. The ride starts in front of the Randall Librar, at the junction of Routes 117 and 62. You can register for the ride and get more information at http://bikeforthewoods.org We will have food and drink including fresh peaches, cider donuts, and our famous mid-ride lemonade stand.

Choose from a variety of ride lengths including 5, 14, 28, 35, 48 and a 65-mile metric century. All ages and abilities are welcome. The routes are well marked and cue sheets are provided. The routes take you by some of the conservation property in the area. See up close why Stow and surrounding towns are considered biking central by those in the know. The Stow Conservation Trust aims to preserve open space for future generations. All proceeds from the ride go to the Trust.

~Outside of Stow~

SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE!
Crescendo Theatre Co. presents Schoolhouse Rock LIVE! Based on the 1970’s cartoon, this fast-paced musical teaches lessons with clever, catchy tunes. Over 20 youth actors from Central Massachusetts will appear. The performances are FREE (donations graciously accepted) and will be held at the Tata Auditorium in Leominster on Friday, August 1 at 2pm, and Saturday August 2 at 2pm. For more info: www.crescendotheatrecompany.com and/or email at crescendotheatrecompany@gmail.com or 508-762-8957.

FREE Family Fun Festivals at Union Common in Marlborough
Four Family Fun Festivals, hosted by the River’s Edge Arts Alliance, are coming to Marlborough in August, and all are FREE to the public. These family friendly themed festivals will take place from 1-4:30pm.

August 2 is an Earth & Science Festival, with a Fossil & Dinosaur presentation at 1pm, a visit by Animal Adventures at 2:15pm, and a Mad Science demonstration “Eggbert ‘n’ Ice” at 3:30pm. August 9 is a Kids Fun Festival, with Mystic Paper Beasts performing at 1pm, The Stupendous Mr. Magichead at 2:15pm, and a thrilling Vegetable Circus performance at 3:30pm. The Festivals will take place at Union Common at 91 Main St., Marlborough. For more information and additional even listings, visit upwitharts.org or call 978-562-1646.

Assabet Village Food Co-op Information Meeting
Are you interested in food? Is healthy food access important to you? Do you like to support local businesses? Then come learn more about the Assabet Village Food Cooperative. The Assabet Village Food Co-op will hold an open meeting to provide more information about this initiative, how a co-op will support the local economy and community, and how you can get involved! Come hear about what we’ve done so far, what comes next, and more. The meeting is on Thursday, August 14, at 7pm, at the Maynard Library (77 Nason St.), first floor. Questions preceding the event, please email ssabetvillagecoop@gmail.com or go to http://assabetvillagecoop.com.

Worcester County Sheriff to Host Annual Senior Picnic
Worcester County Sheriff Lew Evangelidis has announced the Sheriff’s Annual Senior Picnic will be held at SAC Park in Shrewsbury on Saturday, August 16, from 11am to 3pm. Admission is free for all seniors. In addition to a traditional BBQ menu, the Sheriff’s Picnic will include a fun afternoon of complimentary bingo games, raffle prizes, and music entertainment. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, as space is limited in the pavilion area. For more information, please contact the Worcester CountyReserve Deputy Sheriff’s Association at 508-796-0344 or visit www.worcestercountysheriff.com.

FAMILY WELLNESS FAIR
The 3rd annual Family Wellness Fair will be held on Saturday, August 16, on the Lancaster Town Green, from 10am-2pm. This year’s event features dozens of local businesses and groups offering family health and wellness services. The event will kick off at 10am with a 1/2 mile family fun walk. Safety tips from the Lancaster firefighters and police officers. Explore a fire truck and police car! The 4-H will demonstrate animal care with local farm animals! Face painting, Zumba demo, RAD kids self defense demo, healthy foods demo, and more will be offered throughout the day! Huge raffle display and enter to win fabulous health related products and services! This Family Wellness Fair is hosted by Corrective Chiropractic and will benefit Karen’s Closet, a nonprofit organization that provides coats, clothing, and other necessities to local schools for students in need. Free admission!

WINDOWS ON EARTH: Astronauts Photograph the Earth
Gallery Seven presents Windows on Earth, a series of 20 images photographed by astronauts from the International Space Station and fine tuned by artist Dan Barstow. We are accustomed to seeing photographs of the earth from space, and they look like what they are, images taken for scientific or military purposes. In the case of these photographs,the astronauts are working as artists. They are making artistic and aesthetic choices – this is the first step in the process. The second, is Stow artist Dan Barstow working with the digital file in order to fine tune color and tonality, to help capture what the astronauts might have seen and felt as they clicked the shutter.

The exhibition runs from August 19 to September 27. Opening Reception: Saturday, September 6, 7-9 p.m. For more information about Gallery Seven and upcoming exhibitions please call 978-897-9777, or visit us at www.gallerysevenmaynard.com.